INSPIRATION!

Today was an impressive day of learning in the Ecoschoolhouse.  Students spent their morning observing Stewart Park with their preschool buddies.  The 5th graders assisted their young working friends with science tools to observe living and nonliving specimens in the park.  We celebrated our time viewing insects, plants, birds, and such with Chaco showing off his frisbee skills. 

After a walk back to the Ecoschoolhouse, we discussed the Commutative Property of Addition using decimals we recorded in the field yesterday observing stream organisms.  In the afternoon, students were very focused as they worked independently on their science notes from recent experiences.  We will use their notes to guide our discussion about our community science project for the year. 

I also met with every student today about reading and writing and on their island project. At the end of the day, we celebrated each student who made progress on their work habit goal for the week.  Every student was able to make a choice about how to end the day.  Most enjoyed free time on their new devices.  We discussed some appropriate use expectations and students had fun downloading a few fun apps to their device.  After all, we had been very professional and responsible with the iPads up so it was good to have the kiddos enjoy them in a personal way. 

Below you will see photos taken by students over the past 24 hours.  Students are organizing their scientific observations and questions of these expderiences.  After this time in the field, the kids did a wonderful job as focused learners in the afternoon today.  Enjoy!

This vulture shot was taken by an experienced student birder.

This prairie is burned in some Springs which helps promote native plants. We also observed a native plant rain garden this day.

We are seeing many more trees and rock on our walks.

This was the view of our classroom today!

This student appreciated the limestone landscape.

There is a lizard on the very edge of the cliff!

Jackson observed the tall tree on the left has a large nest.

I heard tales of a large caterpillar...

...and I'm so proud of this scientist for using their hand as a measurement landmark!  That's a big caterpillar!

This is a limestone cliff!

Scientists asked about plants growing in the cliff and we discussed the 3 types of rocks: sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous.

Okay, these bones are still in my science bag.  We will have to have an identification contest!

Great shot.

Scientist at work.

We have seen these grasshoppers often, as well as a longer, spotted brown one.

And yet another organism to identify!

We helped our preschool buddies observe with science tools.

Our buddies were already categorizing living and nonliving things before observed some together in observation jars. I was very pleased with how well our 5th grade All-Stars were serious in their job of modeling scientist behavior.  This a very successful buddy trip to Stewart Park.